Klarinet Archive - Posting 000525.txt from 1995/06

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: "Practice Makes Perfect?"
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 22:51:20 -0400

Arlene,
The real problem here is that Meghan is bored and her teacher is
not helping matters. Either she doesn't play the piece well enough and
must practice it (in which case her teacher should be pointing this out) or
she really DOES do a great job on the piece and, with no performances in
sight, has no legitimate reason to keep whipping a dead horse. If this is
the case, why isn't she being challenged and allowed play some new
pieces? The surest way to kill enthusiasm in a talented student, as any
teacher knows, is not to challenge them, but to bore them. Have you
discussed this aspect of Meghan's situation with her teacher?

Free Jacobowitz

On Thu, 22 Jun 1995, Arlene Jones wrote:

> Hope you can settle a recurring argument between my daughter and myself
> about the merits of daily practicing. Meghan is almost fourteen, has
> been playing and taking lessons for clarinet and bass clarinet for five
> years. She's a VERY good musician for her age, but even though her
> teachers say daily practice is important, she feels "if you can play a
> piece perfectly you don't need to keep practicing", nor do you need to
> practice scales, etc. every day.
>
> As an old piano player, I say practicing every day helps the fingers
> "remember" and the discipline of setting time aside every day for
> practice is important too.
>
> So please let me know your thoughts on this topic. Sorry if you've
> covered it "ad nauseum" in the past, but she's agreed to abide by the
> opinion of the majority of those who respond.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Meghan's Mom
>
> amjones@-----.edu
>